A village in the occupied West Bank has been hemmed in, locked down and its fields stripped bare amid rising hostility from Israeli settlers and increasing pressure from Israel's military.

Jerusalem

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Middle East Conflict

Palestinian farmers in the West Bank village of al-Mukhair have experienced significant losses after thousands of olive trees were removed by the Israeli military and hardline settlers. The military states that the action was taken for security reasons, citing alleged attacks on settlers, while villagers and monitoring groups describe the measures as collective punishment and report ongoing violence and impunity for settlers.

Residents of al-Mukhair report regular attacks and restrictions on their movement and livelihoods, with the village recently placed under lockdown, homes searched, and the mayor arrested. Palestinian officials have visited the site to assess the damage, as new outposts continue to be established nearby.

West Bank village suffers from crop destruction, settler threats

An assault on the land and those who've tended it for generations. Just over a week ago, thousands of olive trees grew on these now barren patches belonging to Palestinian farmers in al-Mukhair. Dug up by the Israeli military and hardline Jewish settlers whose illegal outposts and settlements surround the village. Saeed Abu Alia says his family has lost a thousand trees. And when they cut the trees, our life has become, economic life became miserable. They haven't been able to freely harvest them since October 7th, 2023. Israeli-only roads and settler violence prohibiting them. The Israeli military says it had to do this for security reasons. It accuses the Palestinians of using the olive trees as cover to throw stones at passing settler vehicles. The military commander in charge also called it a response to an alleged shooting attack by a Palestinian against a settler. Every village and every enemy, he says, needs to know that if they carry out an attack against the residents they will pay a heavy price. The villagers call it collective punishment. Somebody shot, they took them to the prison and they punish him and punish his family. Not punish all the village. Al-Mukhair faces regular violent attacks by settlers. Israeli monitoring groups say settlers act with impunity. There is no response by the police. Or even worse, sometimes when they are coming they will arrest the Palestinians even though they were attacked by settlers. People of Al-Mukhair are still in shock. Palestinian officials arriving from Ramallah to survey the scene. The village was locked down for three days when the trees were cut. Houses searched, property destroyed and the mayor arrested. On a hill across the road, the villagers aren't allowed to use. A mechanical digger is at work on another outpost. Margaret Evans, CBC News, in the occupied West Bank.

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West Bank village suffers from crop destruction, settler threats

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